Peconic Ballet Theatre and East End Arts Present “Art Barre”

East End Arts and Peconic Ballet Theatre are introducing their unique collaboration on a series of events for enthusiasts of all disciplines of visual and performing arts sponsored by Martha Clara Vineyards. Art Barre – A Collection of the East End’s Finest Arts will be held on November 5, 19 and December 3 and 17 at 7 p.m. at the Peconic Ballet Theatre at 71 East Main Street in Riverhead.

The two groups have planned four evenings of wine tasting, art exhibitions by local artists, and a dance performance by Peconic Ballet Theatre’s professional dance company. East End Arts School student musicians will play a piece that Peconic Ballet Theatre’s Christiana Bitonti will interpret and choreograph for professional dancers to perform.

“I wanted to bring an event to Downtown Riverhead’s Main Street that resembles performances that are held in New York City. The East End is filled with talented artists under many different modalities and my goal is to bring attention to what they are doing for residents across the East End. New York City is filled with art and culture, and I believe that is also the case on the East End. Instead of taking a trip to New York, East Enders can enjoy those same types of events right in their backyard. As Riverhead continues its revitalization, I wanted to showcase that the arts community can aid in this renaissance,” Christiana Bitonti the founder of Peconic Ballet Theatre said.

On November 5 dance series A will be performed with East End Arts featured member artist Jim Slezak, a photographer from Hampton Bays and East End Arts featured musician Brett Callagy on viola. On November 19, dance series A will be performed with East End Arts featured member artist Mary Twomey, a mixed media printmaker from Greenport and East End Arts featured musician, Brett Callagy on viola. On December 3 dance series B will be performed with East End Arts featured member artist Helen Janson, a photographer from Mattituck and East End Arts featured musician, Aidan Saltini on cello. On December 17 dance series B will be performed with East End Arts featured member artist Laura Stroh, a painter from Jamesport and East End Arts featured musician Aidan Saltini on cello.

“We at East End Arts are excited to be collaborating with our talented neighbors at Peconic Ballet Theatre, and to be offering this special opportunity for our music students and faculty to collaborate with artists of another discipline, which takes their skills as performers to a whole new level. Our students and faculty are working hard on their pieces which they are arranging themselves and will then be interpreted and choreographed by Christiana for the dancers. This is a really unique opportunity for both the student musicians, dancers and also the community to experience,” Diane Giardi, EEA Education Director said.

Tickets cost $20 per person and benefit the Peconic Ballet Foundation, which offers students the opportunity to dance that may not otherwise have had the chance. For more information visit peconicballettheatre.com, visit eastendarts.org or call them at (631) 727-0900.